Zalatoris Nearly Wins 2022 PGA Championship
5/22/2022 7:58:00 PM | Men's Golf
Will Zalatoris records his second runner-up performance at a major title after finishing in second at the 2021 Masters.
TULSA, Okla. – For the second time in his young career, former Wake Forest men's golfer Will Zalatoris finished as the runner up at a major championship, falling just short in a three-hole playoff at the PGA Championship Sunday at historic Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.
Zalatoris also finished as the runner-up at the 2021 Masters in his debut appearance in the tournament. This marks the fifth time in his young pro career that he has finished tied for eighth or better in a major championship. This is the second consecutive top eight finish at a major after tying for sixth at the Masters in April.
Going into the final round, Zalatoris sat at 6-under-par and three shots off the lead. Going into the 72nd hole, Zalatoris hit a long par putt to share the clubhouse lead with Justin Thomas and the two went to a playoff to decide the championship.
Zalatoris nearly became the sixth Demon Deacon to win a major title and nearly the second to claim the Wanamaker Trophy as Lanny Wadkins remains as the only Deac to claim the prize, winning in 1977. Additionally, this would have been the first win on the PGA Tour for Zalatoris.
He was in contention all week long and shared the lead at multiple points on Sunday. Additionally, the two-time Wake Forest All-American was the 36-hole leader at 9-under-par.
In the Playoff
On the par-5 13th, Zalatoris reached the green in two shots after a nice drive down the middle of the fairway. An eagle putt just missed to the left of the hole and he knocked in a birdie to go 1-under in the playoff.
After Thomas birdied, the pair went to the par-4 17th tied.
Thomas drove the green and Zalatoris was just off the right of the green, chipped on and two putted for a par. Thomas birdied, taking a one-shot lead into the par-4 18th.
Down by one, Zalatoris hit a three wood down the center of the fairway and hit the green on his approach shot. He parred the hole, but he came up one stroke short as the Thomas birdie on the 17th proved to be the difference.
Strong Finishes for the Deacs
It was a strong week all around for the three Demon Deacons competing in Tulsa, Okla.
After making the cut on the nose, PGA Tour veteran Webb Simpson had an impressive Saturday, moving inside of the top 10. Simpson carded the lowest round on the course Saturday, turning in a 65 (-5) that helped him rise up 54 spots on the leaderboard.
After being as high as tied for fifth on Sunday, he finished tied for 20th, his third career top-20 finish and his 15th career top-20 finish at a major tournament.
Paired with Zalatoris in the final round, Cameron Young had an impressive run at his first major. At one point during Sunday, Young was tied for the lead at 6-under-par.
He finished tied for third at 4-under-par, his third consecutive top-three finish and the fifth top-three finish overall during his PGA Tour rookie season.
Zalatoris also finished as the runner-up at the 2021 Masters in his debut appearance in the tournament. This marks the fifth time in his young pro career that he has finished tied for eighth or better in a major championship. This is the second consecutive top eight finish at a major after tying for sixth at the Masters in April.
Going into the final round, Zalatoris sat at 6-under-par and three shots off the lead. Going into the 72nd hole, Zalatoris hit a long par putt to share the clubhouse lead with Justin Thomas and the two went to a playoff to decide the championship.
Zalatoris nearly became the sixth Demon Deacon to win a major title and nearly the second to claim the Wanamaker Trophy as Lanny Wadkins remains as the only Deac to claim the prize, winning in 1977. Additionally, this would have been the first win on the PGA Tour for Zalatoris.
He was in contention all week long and shared the lead at multiple points on Sunday. Additionally, the two-time Wake Forest All-American was the 36-hole leader at 9-under-par.
In the Playoff
On the par-5 13th, Zalatoris reached the green in two shots after a nice drive down the middle of the fairway. An eagle putt just missed to the left of the hole and he knocked in a birdie to go 1-under in the playoff.
After Thomas birdied, the pair went to the par-4 17th tied.
Thomas drove the green and Zalatoris was just off the right of the green, chipped on and two putted for a par. Thomas birdied, taking a one-shot lead into the par-4 18th.
Down by one, Zalatoris hit a three wood down the center of the fairway and hit the green on his approach shot. He parred the hole, but he came up one stroke short as the Thomas birdie on the 17th proved to be the difference.
Strong Finishes for the Deacs
It was a strong week all around for the three Demon Deacons competing in Tulsa, Okla.
After making the cut on the nose, PGA Tour veteran Webb Simpson had an impressive Saturday, moving inside of the top 10. Simpson carded the lowest round on the course Saturday, turning in a 65 (-5) that helped him rise up 54 spots on the leaderboard.
After being as high as tied for fifth on Sunday, he finished tied for 20th, his third career top-20 finish and his 15th career top-20 finish at a major tournament.
Paired with Zalatoris in the final round, Cameron Young had an impressive run at his first major. At one point during Sunday, Young was tied for the lead at 6-under-par.
He finished tied for third at 4-under-par, his third consecutive top-three finish and the fifth top-three finish overall during his PGA Tour rookie season.
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